#804: Identity Play through “Creek-Science” as Liminal Practice

Using identity play as an analytic construct, we designed a critical, place-based summer camp for youth to have multiple opportunities to try on heterogeneous science identity modes. Unexpectedly, scientific studies of the creek (e.g., hydrology data collection, macroinvertebrate studies) we feared would suppress identity play were reported by youth as one of the most impactful and novel activities. We conceptualize the creek as a liminal space between youths’ playworlds and the cultural world of disciplinary science, and 1) show how grounding served as a “ceremony” to refigure the creek as liminal space, 2) illustrate how the liminal creek-science practice of treasure-hunting enabled youths’ disciplinary identity play.